Fire extinguisher

ABSTRACT

A fire extinguisher comprises a container filled with fire extinguishing material under pressure and a valve assembly on the container. The valve assembly comprises a valve body having an axial opening and a plunger which is yieldingly urged outwardly to close the opening and prevent the fire extinguishing material from being dispensed. A lever is provided for moving the plunger and thereby dispensing the material.

Zetterstrom 169/31 United States Patent [151 3,662,836 Siimes [4 1 May 16, 1972 [54] FIRE EXTINGUISHER FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Timo Siimes, 1680 Kildare Road, Wind- 656,878 1/ 1965 Belgium ..169/3l Ontario, Canada 888,926 9/1943 France ..169/31 22 F'led: l 28 1969 1 l y Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. PP NW ,226 Assismnt ExaminerReinhold W. Thieme Attorney-Barnes, Kisselle, Raisch & Choate [52] US. Cl. ..l69/3l R, 169/18 51 Int. Cl ..A62c 13/00 ABSTRACT [58] Field Of Search l69/9, 18, 3] R; 239/583, 280 A fire extinguisher comprises a container fi i fire extim guishing material under pressure and a valve assembly on the [56] Rem-"mes Cited container. The valve assembly comprises a valve body having UNITED STATES PATENTS an axial opening and a plunger which is yieldingly urged outwardly to close the opening and prevent the fire extinguishing 3,017,056 H1962 Blshop ..,...239/28O UX t ial f o being dispensed, A lever is provided for moving 2,924,230 2/1960 Caner I n 169/3l the plunger and thereby dispensing the material. 3,105,458 10/1963 Downham ....l69/3l 3,137,417 6/1964 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures FIRE EXTINGUISHER This invention relates to fire extinguishers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One common method of dispensing dry chemicals for extinguishing fires is to place them under pressure in a container and provide a valve assembly for dispensing the fire extinguishing chemical. It is essential that the valve assembly insures proper dispensing by being positive in its action, both in preventing the discharge and in discharging the contents.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a fire extinguisher which incorporates a novel valve assembly that insures proper interruption of the flow of material; wherein the valve can be readily manipulated with minimum effort; which utilizes a minimum number of parts; which can be readily assembled and disassembled for service if required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a part sectional side view of a fire extinguisher embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a leaf spring utilized in the invention.

DESCRIPTION Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the fire extinguisher l embodying the invention comprises a container 11 in which fire extinguishing material under pressure are provided. The container has an opening at one end and a valve assembly 13 is provided. The valve assembly comprises a valve body 14 that is threaded into the opening of the container and has an axially extending opening 15. A plastic tube 16 is threaded into the inner end of the opening which has a larger diameter as at 17 and extends into the container 11. An O-ring 18 provides a seal between the valve body 14 and the container 11.

The opening 15 includes an intermediate portion 19 and an outer portion 20. A plunger 21 is positioned in the opening 15 and has a head 22 that supports an O-ring 23 by a retainer 24. The O-ring 23 is adapted to engage a tapered surface 25 of the opening 15. The other end 26 of the plunger extends outwardly beyond the body and has a portion 27 of reduced diameter. An O-ring 27a provides a seal. The intermediate portion 28 of the plunger is of reduced diameter adjacent a point where an outlet opening 29 communicates with the axial opening 15. A nozzle 29 is threaded into opening 29. As viewed in FIG. 1 the opening 29 forms an acute angle with the axis of container 1 l and extends downwardly and outwardly.

A leaf spring 30 which is generally J-shaped has a short leg 31 with a tab 31a thereon extending into an opening 32 of a sheet metal handle 33 that is fixed to the body 14. Spring 30 includes a long leg 34 that has a bifurcated end 35 that engages the reduced portion 27 of the plunger. The spring 30 thus yieldingly urges the plunger 21 outwardly holding the O- ring 23 on plunger 21 normally in engagement with the surface 25.

A sheet metal lever 36 which is generally U-shaped in cross section is pivoted by a rivet 37 to the body and has a transverse pin 38 that engages the long leg 34 of the spring 30. A pressure gauge 39 is threaded into an opening 40 which communicates with opening 15 to indicate the pressure of the contents. A safety pin 41 extends through openings 42 in the legs of lever 36 to prevent inadvertent squeezing of the lever. Pin

41 is provided with a finger loop 43 and a chain connects loop 43 and pin 37.

By grasping the handle 33 and squeezing the lever 36, the pin 38 engages the spring 30 to move the plunger 21 inwardly with respect to the container 11 thereby permitting the pressurized contents to be dispensed through the outlet 29 and nozzle 29a.

As the squeezing action is increased, the pin 38 moves along the leg 34, to the right as viewed in FIG. 1, increasing the leverage so that a minimum movement of the lever 36 is required thereby minimizing any tendency for pinching of the hand between the lever and the handle.

It can thus be seen that the spring is completely external of the plunger thereby not interfering with the flow of the fire extinguishing. The fire extinguishing material may comprise dry powdered chemicals, liquids or carbon dioxide. The valve assembly utilizes a minimum number of parts which can be readily assembled and disassembled for service as required.

I claim:

1. For use in a fire extinguisher,

a valve assembly adapted to be mounted on one end of said container,

said valve assembly comprising a valve body,

said valve body having an axially extending opening,

one end of said opening communicating with the interior of the container,

said body having a laterally extending outlet opening communicating with said axial extending opening,

a plunger positioned in said axially extending opening,

said plunger having a head at one end,

sealing means on said head engaging one end of said body for providing a seal, the other end of said plunger extending outwardly and externally of said body,

and spring means externally of said body acting on said plunger and yieldingly urging said plunger head and said seal against said valve body to close communication between the interior of the container and the outlet openmg,

and a lever movably mounted on said valve body and adapted to engage said spring means for moving said plunger axially inwardly and thereby providing communication between the interior of .the container and the outlet opening,

spring means comprising a leaf spring having one end thereof fixed'with respect to said body and the other end thereof engaging said plunger,

said leaf spring being generally J-shaped including a short leg and a long leg, the short leg thereof being fixed to said body and the long leg thereof extending toward and engaging said plunger,

said lever being pivoted to said body and has a portion thereof engaging said leaf spring intermediate its ends along the long leg of said spring spaced from the end thereof which engages said plunger,

the pivotal mounting of said lever being such that said portion of said lever engaging said spring moves along said spring as the lever pivots with respect to said body.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 including a fixed handle on said body adapted to be grasped to permit squeezing of the lever with respect to said handle.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said sealing means on said plunger comprises an O-ring.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said valve body has a tapered surface against which said O-ring seals.

5. The combination set forth in claim 1 including a sealing ring on said plunger engaging said opening in said body to provide a seal between the other end of said plunger and said body.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said plunger has a portion of reduced diameter adjacent the outlet opening.

7. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the long end of said leaf spring is bifurcated,

said plunger having a portion of reduced diameter engaged by said bifurcated portion of said spring. 8. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said sealing means on said plunger comprises an O-ring,

said valve body having a tapered surface against which said O-ring seals.

nun, 

1. For use in a fire extinguisher, a valve assembly adapted to be mounted on one end of said container, said valve assembly comprising a valve body, said valve body having an axially extending opening, one end of said opening communicating with the interior of the container, said body having a laterally extending outlet opening communicating with said axial extending opening, a plunger positioned in said axially extending opening, said plunger having a head at one end, sealing means on said head engaging one end of said body for providing a seal, the other end of said plunger extending outwardly and externally of said body, and spring means externally of said body acting on said plunger and yieldingly urging said plunger head and said seal against said valve body to close communication between the interior of the container and the outlet opening, and a lever movably mounted on said valve body and adapted to engage said spring means for moving said plunger axially inwardly and thereby providing communication between the interior of the container and the outlet opening, spring means comprising a leaf spring having one end thereof fixed with respect to said body and the other end thereof engaging said plunger, said leaf spring being generally J-shaped including a short leg and a long leg, the short leg thereof being fixed to said body and the long leg thereof extending toward and engaging said plunger, said lever being pivoted to said body and has a portion thereof engaging said leaf spring intermediate its ends along the long leg of said spring spaced from the end thereof which engages said plunger, the pivotal mounting of said lever being such that said portion of said lever engaging said spring moves along said spring as the lever pivots with respect to said body.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 including a fixed handle on said body adapted to be grasped to permit squeezing of the lever with respect to said handle.
 3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said sealing means on said plunger comprises an O-ring.
 4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said valve body has a tapered surface against which said O-ring seals.
 5. The combination set forth in claim 1 Including a sealing ring on said plunger engaging said opening in said body to provide a seal between the other end of said plunger and said body.
 6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said plunger has a portion of reduced diameter adjacent the outlet opening.
 7. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the long end of said leaf spring is bifurcated, said plunger having a portion of reduced diameter engaged by said bifurcated portion of said spring.
 8. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said sealing means on said plunger comprises an O-ring, said valve body having a tapered surface against which said O-ring seals. 